Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wodnesleie 1086 DB

• Wodnesleg(a), Wodneslea, Wodnesleia, Wodnesl', Wodnesle, Wodneslegh 1167,1168etfreqto1204 P late12th StoweCh late12th Okeover 1240 FF

• Wodensleye 1312 FF

• Wednes-, Wednis-, -leg(a), -le(e), -ley(e), -legh p.1180 Okeover 1212 Fees c.1225 BelCh 1251 Woll 1463 et freq

• Weddenesleg' 1240 RegAnt

• Wedenisley(e), Wedenesley(e), -ley(e) 1289 WollCh 1298 Cl 1335 Woll

• Wedynsleye 1303 FF

• Wedunsleye 1330 Ass

• Wendesley(e), Wendeslay c.1270 BelCh 1330 Ass 1431 Fine 1587 Lanc

• Wen(n)esley, Wen(n)esle(e) 1414,1429,1430,1449 Woll 1573 HMC

• Wensley 1446 Woll

Etymology

'Grove dedicated to the service of Wōden', v. Wōden , lēah and supra xxv. For the later irregular development cf. Wednesday and Wednesbury, Wednesfield (PN St 168–9).